I have been involved in all manners of composting for 17 years, for myself as well as a private school and I have seen every possible compost system, style, ingredients, misconceptions and tools and if you were to ask me why one pile has lots"o"worms and one pile none I would have to sum up all my knowledge and experience and say......IDUNNO.
And there you have it
ialbtc

The worms are just doing that to screw with you.

Most likely the leaves attracted redworms. Both of my compost piles are full of them because of the leaves. That compost is filtered with 1/4" mesh and applied as a mulch. Really good stuff as the worms contribute their own special properties to compost. I guess it's a form of vermicomposting at this stage.

nope, i'll al;most bet it has to do with the chainsaw shavings, think about it, it'll have the icky stuff from the chainsaw. even though it is only in fume form more than likely. maybe that could be it???? especially if that is the only difference between the two piles, i'll bet it's that. IMO ~medo :'))

As a general rule the presence of worms in a compost pile means that it is too cold and wet to properly compost. Earthworms are not a significant means of digesting the material to be composted but because they need a cool, moist environment to exist that should be a clue about the state of the pile if they are present, too cool and too moist.

kimmsr - I agree with you on the cool moist condition as being detrimental to composting early on. Those piles began as quite hot and reduced in size by over a half. After setting over the winter the redworms hatched and began to work on 80% finished compost. Now it is black, unrecognizable fluff that makes wonderfully nutritious mulch after being screened 1/4". The worms are tossed back into what's left of the piles. Thank you for instilling in me the desire and knowledge to make such incredible soil amendments and mulch. I would never have believed it until I listened to you and then tried it. Oh, redworms are native to this area and always inhabit leaf mold.

Worms are part of the process, just one of the final parts. You shouldn't be quick to consider you pile too wet or too cold. Just consider it mostly done and in need of harvesting. I have seen worms in dry and moist piles, but never in the hot part of a pile, always in the parts that are finished.

I don't know why they wouldn't be in both piles, but I like joepyeweed's answer the best.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.gardeninginconverse.com (my garden blog)

magma displacement.

hmmm never thought about that!! LOL i knew about the too hot part, so if the worms are in there, does that mean the pile is done?? or only when the pile is blackish? i know mine won't be done for ages, but..... i just am so very soaking in this!! :')) and the whole worm thing is well...new to me, i know they are decomposers but does that mean they are there when its done?? ohhhh i'm not saying this right for sure!! LOL

What kind of soil do earthworms live in? Hot and Dry? Hot and moist? Have you ever seen an earthworm in soils that were dry? Warm? Lacking in organic matter?
Earthworms need a very moist environment to live in and a very moist environment does not do much for an active, hot compost pile. So you will not find earthworms in a pile that is actively composting and is quite warm even though a bit moist. If earthworms are present in a compost pile then the pile is not actively composting because earthworms cannot live in that kind of an environment.
Earthworms job is to help convert organic matter in the soi into stuff the soil bacteria can better utilize to feed your plants, that whole Soil Food Web works closely together starting with the wee buggers, Earwigs, Pill Bugs, Sow, Bugs, Ants, etc. that aid in converting large bits and pieces of dead organic matter into smaller bits and pieces of organic matter that other, smaller, critters can digest.

ok, thanks!! i got it! WHEW!! :')) ~Medo

I was going to post that I have no worms in my heap. Other bugs, yes. I was starting to worry but now thanks to Kimmsr's explanation, I realize no worms b/c the pile isn't overly wet. It is breaking down, so all is good here!

Thanks for the explanation!!

Hello fespo...you might consider transportin' some of the worms from the pile that gots um...to the pile thats ain't gots um. But ya need to be careful ya don't gots more in one pile then the other...if ya know what I mean. Out of balance piles could tilt the earth in the wrong direction...and cause all kinds of problems. Have a Bud and let yer shoulder rest...Franklin

I've been composting for 6 years, and have had all different piles in different stages of decomposition. The only piles I've ever had that were loaded with worms were piles that had large amounts of UCG's in them. That's what I think attracts large numbers of worms.

Deanna

What are UCG's, please?
B

"What are UCG's, please? "

Used Coffee Grounds.

Starbucks gives them away for free. Other places may do the same, but it's corporate policy at Starbucks.